He owned a motorcycle repair shop about forty miles north of the diner.
He had been riding motorcycles since he was seventeen.
He had been part of the same motorcycle club for almost thirty years.
And according to Mrs. Dalton, who knew everyone's business within a fifty-mile radius, Ray had been coming into the diner every Tuesday for nearly eight years.
Maya had only been working there for six months.
She had seen him before.
But she'd never spoken to him.
Not really.
She had always assumed he preferred being left alone.
She was wrong.
Ray finished wrapping her knee.
"There."
Maya looked at the bandana.
"You should probably take this back."
Ray didn't move.
"You can keep it for now."
"I'll wash it."
"No."
She looked up.
He seemed uncomfortable.
"Just keep it clean."
"Okay."
He stood.
Maya smiled.
"Thank you."
Ray nodded.
Then he walked toward his usual booth.
The diner slowly returned to normal.
People began talking again.
Orders were called.
Coffee was poured.
Someone turned the radio back on.
But Maya couldn't stop looking at the red bandana around her knee.
There was something about it.
Something that made Ray look at it as if it were more than a piece of cloth.
She didn't know how much more.
Not yet.
Three hours later, the diner was closing.
Maya was wiping tables when she noticed Ray still sitting in his booth.
He was staring through the window.
His motorcycle was parked beneath the streetlight outside.
"You're still here."
Ray looked over.
"Apparently."
"You waiting for someone?"
"No."
"Then why haven't you left?"
He shrugged.
"Coffee's good."
Maya smiled.
"You've had seven cups."
"Still good."
She laughed.
Then she looked at her knee.
The bandana was still there.
"I really should give this back."
Ray's expression changed again.
"Not tonight."
"Why?"
He looked away.
"Because I gave it to you."
Maya didn't understand.
"But it's yours."
"It was."
She waited.
Ray stared at the table.
"It belonged to my daughter."
Maya's smile disappeared.
"Oh."
He nodded.
"Her name was Lily."
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
"Was?"
Ray swallowed.
"She died."
Maya sat down across from him.
"I'm sorry."
Ray nodded.
"Twenty years ago."
Maya looked at the bandana.
"The flower?"